Just a second

2009's arrival was delayed. By 1 second. A leap second, astronomers call it.

"The Register" of UK says: "Timekeepers will tack on a "leap second" to the world's clocks December 31, 2008 at 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). ... The time discrepancy is due to the planet's spin gradually but surely slowing down, mostly due to tidal friction."

Not that any of us really noticed that time delay. For whatever reason, it simply meant we had that one extra second in our lives. Did we even feel the difference? How could one second, a blink of an eye, impact on us anyway, especially in these "ADHD" times?

1 second could have been a kiss prolonged just a teensy bit longer. A hug tightened for a loved one. A smile to a sad stranger. A flash of a happy memory. An extended savoring of a favorite dessert. An orgasm spun out just one moment longer. One more set of ha-ha-ha in sharing a good laugh with friends.

One second may have no monetary value but it can hold a lifetime of meaning to some. That one-second delay could have spelled the difference between holding onto a firecracker and throwing it just in time, between a good shot and a bad one, or between saying a mean word and biting your tongue. That one second may seem trivial or inconsequential to most except for those whose lives are ticking away towards death or who are waiting for their homeward-bound flights to take off.

We often say there is never enough time. Time flies when you're having fun. Slow down, you move too fast, you gotta make the morning last. All in good time. Had we known about that extra second added to the our lives' time, would we have done something to make the most of it? Or would we have simply shrugged our shoulders and said "Hah, a mere second. Big deal."?

Well, time is what we make of it. And I hope that we will make the most of the time 2009 allots us. To live in peace and nonjudgmental understanding. To give back for all the blessings one enjoys to those who have less. To take full advantage of each precious moment of each day to give all of oneself to things one believes in. And for me, for that one extra second given, I offer a quick thank-You to God for another year.